Introduction to Degrees in Management

ManagementDegrees has several resources and guides dedicated to online programs in management. Management is the act of getting personnel to accomplish desired goals, whether in business, education, or government. College degrees in management are awarded at every level.

Sponsored Listings for Management Degrees

Ashford University — The BA Business Administration in Business Management at Ashford University offers several specializations to incoming students, including Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources Management, Information Systems, International Management, Logistics Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Project Management, and Public Administration. The BA in Organizational Management teaches the human side of managing organizations. Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001, www.wscuc.org.

Liberty University — Liberty University is an independent, fundamentalist Baptist university in Virginia that has become a strong force in online and distance learning. Its online BS in business management program offers students a path to learning the basics of management in a variety of business settings. M.B.A. students can choose to concentrate in accounting, human resources, international business or leadership. There is also a specific MA in management & leadership program that prepares students for a variety of managerial roles.

What is a Management Degree?

All businesses, organizational activities and groups have managers to handle logistics and administrative tasks so that people can get together to accomplish desired goals and objectives by using available resources efficiently. There are a few skills that go into managing including planning, organizing, staffing, leading, directing, and controlling an organization. Management teams may comprise one person or a whole group of people working to organize people and use efficient methods and workflows to reach stated objectives. Management resourcing includes the deployment of human resources, financial resources, technological resources and natural resources.

There are different types of management, which are used for different purposes. The nature of managerial for-profit work has the primary function of satisfying a range of stakeholders. Managerial duties include making a profit, creating valued products at a reasonable cost, and proving rewarding employment opportunities for employees. The nature of nonprofit management also includes these factors, but also add the importance of keeping the faith of their donors and supporters. In the public sector, voters usually elect a political figure who then hires many managers.

In almost all models of management there is a board of directors who hire senior management. There are a few organizations that have attempted other models in reviewing and selecting managers, such as employee-voting models, but this is rare. Almost all organizations have three management levels: low-level, middle-level, and top-level. These managers are classified in a hierarchy of authority and they perform different tasks within the organization. Obtaining different degrees allow you to gain the skills to move to different levels of management. Lower-level degrees allow lower-level management positions, where as upper-level degrees allow upper-level management positions.

What are the types of Management Degrees Available?

There are copious numbers of degree programs for aspiring managers, business professionals and business owners, aligned to fit your exact needs. The following is a list of potential degrees in management, although there are more than what is mentioned here:

Associate Degree (A.A.)

A.A. General Management

A.A. in Telecommunications Management

A.A. in Sports Management

A.A. in Restaurant Management

A.A. in Hotel Management

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

B.S. in Business Management

B.S. in General Management

B.S. in Retail Management

B.S. in Human Services and Management

B.S. in Business Administration

B.S. in Human Resource Management

B.S. in Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship

B.S. in Managerial Accounting

B.S. in Hospitality Management

Master of Science (M.S.)

M.S. in Organization and Management

M.S. in Human Resource Management

M.S. in IT Management

M.S. in Leadership Management

M.S. in International Management

M.S. in Healthcare Management

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA in Management of Information Systems

MBA in Global Management

MBA in Healthcare Management

MBA in Project Management

MBA in Risk Management

PhD in Management

PhD in General Organization and Management

PhD in Human Resource Management

PhD in IT Management

PhD in Leadership Management

PhD in Healthcare Management

Required Coursework for a Management Degree

As there are so many different types and levels of management degrees, coursework really depends on your school, your specialization, and your type of degree. A comprehensive list of course topics in any given management program or degree include:

Strategic Management

Ethical Decision Making

Entrepreneurship

Business Culture

Leadership and Motivation

Corporate Communications

Business Law

Human Resource Management

Workplace Security

Public Relations

International Business

Operational Research

Accounting

Economics

Statistics

Operations and Logistics

Information Technology

Corporate Finance

Investments

Financial Reporting

Supply Chain Management

Marketing Research

What are the Current Top Jobs using Management Degrees?

While many jobs will become available to someone who completes a degree in management, there are a few highly sought positions that usually come with prestige and great paychecks. The following careers have above average salaries and good opportunities for advancement.

Marketing Management:
Marketing managers are needed to push a company in the right direction. This involves pushing an organization’s brand name into the public arena, targeting the business’ ideal customers, working with product development and market research managers to gauge the demand for goods, and pricing its goods accordingly. Marketing managers must ensure that the selling price of the client’s goods and services is competitive with rival organizations, but also are on par with what most customers would be willing to pay.

At least a bachelors degree is needing to become a marketing manager, although many employers search for candidates with master’s degrees. Bachelors takes 4 years to complete, whereas a masters would take an additional two to three years to earn after successfully obtaining a bachelors degree. Additionally certification is sometimes sought after as well in order to increase their skills for future employers.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, marketing managers are expected to increase 14% by 2016 and they currently earn an average salary of $98,720 annually.

Human Resource Management:

Human resource (HR) managers are used by companies and businesses to search for the best possible employees for a particular business or organization. They narrow the job candidate selection down to a few qualified candidates, sometimes coordinating initial interview rounds, and sometimes being responsible for supervising several departments such as employment, compensation and benefits, and training and development. Recruitment and replacement are sometimes a component of a HR manager, which entails traveling to job fairs and career days on university campuses.

HR managers need at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources, personnel, or other related management fields. These degrees take four years to earn and courses include knowledge and skills needed for HR management. If there is a desire to advance within a company, a higher-level degree such as a masters would be required, which would take an additional two to three years. There are also certification options for HR managers, which may increase their ability to get hired.

Employment opportunities for human resources managers are expected to increase 11 percent by 2016, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Human resources managers earn an average salary of $88,510 annually.

Public Relations Management:

Public relations (PR) managers are used to build and maintain the integrity of business brands in the eyes of the public. Additionally they may work in specific areas such as crisis management, or in a specific industry such as health care. PR managers oversee the actions of public relationship specialists and keep track of political, scientific and economic factors that could affect the company and work on ways to prepare the business for any impact. Looking for market and consumer trends to indicate what stockholders or consumers desire is also a part of a PR manager’s duty. Handling communications like employee newsletters and company events, and helping draft executive speeches and press releases are also functions of a PR manager within an organization.

Like most other manager positions, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public relations, journalism, or management is required and takes four years to complete. An additional master’s degree would improve job prospects and would require an additional two to three years of study. Courses within this field include advertising and public speaking.

Finding employment within this field can be competitive, but according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for PR managers are expected to increase 17% by 2016. Public relations managers earn an average salary of $82,180 annually, although wages definitely depend on the location, field, and business that a PR manager is involved in.

Training and Development Manager:

Instructing new employees to ensure that they are well suited to work in their hired positions is the responsibility of a training and development manager. A part of this job is overseeing the training process for new hires. This includes developing programs that boost skills, loyalty and productivity, and supervising the training process to ensure programs are effective. Cutting ineffective programs and building team skills and confidence are all aspects of a training and development manager’s duties. On-site or classroom setting teaching is a part of a training and development manager’s duties.

A four-year bachelor’s degree in human resources, personnel, or other related managing degrees is required for some training and development manager positions. Additional education would be in the form of a labor relations or human resources master’s degree or PhD, and would be another 2 to 5 years of education. Courses needed include compensation and recruitment, and those who wish to enhance their hireability can earn certification from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), which requires the successful completion of an examination as well as adequate work experience.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for training and development managers are expected to increase 16 percent by 2016. Training and development managers earn an average salary of $80,250 annually.

Looking for a management degree?

Fill out this short form below, and we'll help match you to an accredited college program that suits your interests, whether online- or campus-based.